ESU’s Hazard Mitigation Plan Achieves Approval from FEMA

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Posted by: admin on October 27, 2015, No Comments

Last week, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania’s (ESU) Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) has been approved by implementation by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Natural and man-made hazards have the potential to cause loss of life, property damage, and threaten public health and safety. Since January 2014, East Stroudsburg University has taken action to reduce or eliminate these potential losses by updating the ESU Hazard Mitigation Plan. University representatives, including students, faculty, and staff, attended meetings, provided input and actively participated in the planning process. Members of the greater Pocono community, with a stake in hazard mitigation and public safety, also participated.

The updated HMP is the university’s blueprint for reducing or eliminating long-term property damage and saving lives from the effects of future natural and man-made disasters facing the university. The updated plan describes the planning process, documents risks and vulnerabilities, assesses capabilities, and sets forth a mitigation strategy consisting of goals, objectives, and actions to reduce risk.

ESU’s updated Hazard Mitigation Plan also identifies and describes twelve hazard risks facing East Stroudsburg University. Top-ranked hazards include winter storms, extreme temperatures, utility interruptions, and transportation accidents. The mitigation strategy sets forth a comprehensive set of 23 hazard mitigation actions that will reduce risk and create a safer, more resilient campus community. To view the HMP, visit (esu.edu/hazard).

Universities with a FEMA-approved HMP may apply for certain kinds of pre- and post-disaster hazard mitigation funding for projects to mitigate risk to both public and private property, such as generators, stormwater management projects, or structural retrofits of existing facilities. Ultimately these projects will reduce vulnerability and enable communities to recovery more quickly from disasters.